The New Girl

In bestseller Silva’s sophisticated 19th thriller featuring art restorer and Israeli intelligence director Gabriel Allon (after 2018’s The Other Woman), Crown Prince Khalid bin Mohammed, the future king of Saudi Arabia, secretly seeks Allon’s help to rescue his daughter, who’s been kidnapped from her school in Geneva, Switzerland. Though Allon is a former enemy, the prince believes Allon is the best man for the job. Allon reluctantly agrees for political reasons, only to have the rescue attempt come to a tragic end in Southern France. He soon realizes, however, that the kidnapping is part of a bigger plot involving members of the Saudi royal family and his old adversaries, the Russians, who hope to permanently alter the balance of power in the Middle East. Allon and his crew of veteran agents race around the world on a mission to thwart the bad guys. Though order is ultimately restored, the novel ends with an unexpectedly violent conclusion. As always, Silva delivers sharply drawn characters, a complex plot, and vivid backgrounds that add to the book’s realism, even if at times Allon’s own abilities seem too good to be true. Series fans will find plenty to like, and this is an excellent introduction for new readers. [em]10-city author tour. (July) [/em]